S&W 686 Models which do we like?

[calif 15-22]

So yesterday I was at Reed's and thought I really wanted to rent a .357. So I rented the 686 4" Rental beat to crap gun. The thing was dirty and looked liked it had never been cleaned.

Funny thing . . .after shooting 20 rounds of .357 Mag, I had a chubbie for a wheel gun.

They had the 686 SSR, the 686 Plus, and a 686 (all 4") under the glass. They also had a 627 in 4". Sooo many models too many choices.

Got home and looked online at the 686 Plus Pro 5" as well.

What say the S&W 686 guys on which one for my first wheel gun. I do know after handling the GP100 and while nice not as a nice as the S&Ws. The 6" versions of 686 seem just too big.

686 - 6rnds - 4"
686 Plus - 7rnds - 4"
686 SSR - 6rnds - 4"
627 - 8rnds - 4"
686 Plus Pro - 6rnds 5"

[jkody]

They are great guns. I would look for a used pre lock 686 instead of the newer ones with a lock.

[glockman19]

I have a 4" 686+. want a 2.5" or 3" too.

[Reecek]

Why Pre Lock

I like my 686+ 6", but the 4" has better esthetic proportions.
Pre-lock would be nice.

Why pre lock? I'm ignorant on the subject.

[iluvmycolt]

686 standard w/ 4 in barrel

[mtbr44]

have you looked at the ruger gp100 match champion? http://www.ruger.com/products/gp100M...on/models.html i usually prefer smiths but this is a nice revolver.

[calif 15-22]

have you looked at the ruger gp100 match champion? http://www.ruger.com/products/gp100M...on/models.html i usually prefer smiths but this is a nice revolver.

I did see one of those at Reed's. It's built like a tank for sure.
Tough call for me between the S&Ws and the GP100. The trigger on the Pro Series 686 is really nice on the dry fire with a snap cap I did. Really smooth.

Decisions decisions . . .

[Miltiades]

My 686's

I have two 686's, a 6 inch and a 2.5 inch, both prelock. They are two of my favorite guns and are both accurate and reliable. I would recommend either, depending on what you want.

[_TomT_]

TRR8 because I am tacticool.

[P5Ret]

If your going to feed it a steady diet of mags, the Ruger is a bit more robust than the Smith. Not that the Smith will fall apart shooting mags, just the Ruger over the long run may hold up maintenance wise a bit better. It will take a significant amount of force or a very large sum of cash for me to give up my 586 6 inch. For a 30+ year old gun it is still one of my top revolvers.

[jkody]

S&W added a lock a few years back and it's rumored to lock up on them from what I've heard. The lock can be removed and the hole filled but I would rather not have the added failure potential at all. That being said, my 686 with lock has never given me any problems.

[rcslotcar]

pre lock 4"

[javithewrench]

I'm more of a 629 dude and have the 4" mountain gun, a 6" 629 competitor, and the 7 1/2" stealth hunter.

[Mot Mi]

Get the 686+ in 4" you cant go wrong with that model. I have a 686+ 2
75" and a gp100 3". The 686 is my goto HD weapon. Although, I do love snubbies and I have a few wheel guns in 6" and my 44 spc 8". But, get the 686+ in 4" because in the end you may want to ccw it over a 6" but the 6" will give you just a tad bit more velocity and better control over anything smaller. Also to include, there isnt any problems with locked smiths the guys that rave about the prelocks are right that those ones are more desirable as smith made them better in those days but the newer locked smiths are just as good. I have a prelock 44 spc and a locked 686, both run like champs and have never had any problems with any of my hot, mild loads from 38 spc, 357 mag, and 44 spc.

[wamphyri13]

If you like classic blue on a revolver, get the 586. Same as the 686. No plus, though. I currently have a 4" 586, and a 6" 386XL Hunter. Think 686+ in Scandium. I've had a 2.5" and 3" 686+ before, too.
You really can't go wrong with any of your choices.
Ryan